The Need for a Closer Examination of National Security

It now has been four years since Dr. William Graham, Science Advisor to
President Ronald W. Reagan and Chairman of the General Advisory
Committee on Arms Control and Disarmament, and a distinguished panel
completed a study of High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) and its
potential effects upon this country. The conclusions of this study are
the most frightening I have seen concerning modern-day threats. Few have
heard of it because the report has yet to be made public. The reason it
has not been made public is simple: if EMP were understood by the
American people, the next logical question would be what steps the
government has taken to reduce the possibility of an EMP attack in this
country. To date little has been done. When the American people realize
as much, the outrage will be palpable.

EMP is electromagnetic radiation from an explosion (especially a nuclear
explosion). The worst of the pulse lasts for only a second but any
unprotected electrical equipment - and anything connected to electrical
cables, which act as giant lightning rods or antennas - are affected by
it. If a nation with a nuclear bomb and the ability to explode it high
above an American city were to do so, it would have a massive effect in
all directions. Almost immediately all communications systems in the
country would be disrupted completely. No radio. No television. No
internet. Indeed no electricity at all. Most of the country literally
would be in the dark with no possibility of recovering any electrical
facilities. We would not be able to run our cars because the gasoline
pumps would not work. Water distribution systems would not work. While
there would be few immediate deaths connected with such an explosion,
the long-term consequences would be profound. The national power grid
would be rendered completely impotent. It would take many months or even
years to have it up and running but with no power tools available,
accomplishing this likely would be impossible.

There would be no telecommunications. Railroads would be unable to run.
Even if the few steam locomotives left were employed, there would be no
signal systems and no ability to switch tracks. Our entire financial
system would be disrupted because computers would shut down. I could go
on but you get the picture. Recovery would depend upon the restoration
of electric power, the possibility of which would depend upon whether a
part of the country was unaffected and that would depend upon where the
bomb explodes.